Ms Shuna Neilson

Assistant Professor of English for Academic Purposes

Born and raised in South East England, Shuna Neilson’s first degree was taken at the University of Aberdeen, in North-East Scotland. She studied German, Italian and Russian, gaining a joint MA(Hons) degree in Italian and German, with subsidiary Russian. Her studies there included a year at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, studying German, Italian, Russian and Japanese, and six months in Siena, studying Italian.

After graduating, she qualified as an RSA Prep.Cert. English Language Teacher and taught English in Italy for five years, the last two at the University of Pisa, Faculty of Economics and Commerce. Here, and at various points and institutions in her career, she also taught both Italian and German language and translation, and carried out translations from both languages.

The practice of aikido and the fascination of a very different culture then led her to teach for three and a half years in northern Japan at Seirei Women’s Junior College, Akita. She also lectured, in English and Japanese, on Japanese/Western cultural differences.

After qualifying in the RSA Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language for Adults (Dip.TEFLA), Shuna Neilson spent six months as head of the English Department in a school for gifted children at Yeni Ufuklar Koleji in Istanbul, Turkey, learning much from the culture and the language. She then taught English for three years in Trento, Northern Italy, before returning to take an MA in Applied Linguistics, Socio-cultural Approaches, at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Shuna Neilson first worked for Richmond University in Moscow in the summer of 1998, teaching Business English at Moscow Modern University. She joined Richmond on a continuous basis in Fall 1998, when she was asked to run the Richmond English Language Institute, which was then restructured into the Academic English Program of Richmond University in Fall 2000. The Program was awarded British Council Accreditation in 2001 and re-accredited in 2006.

She now teaches core courses of Academic Writing and assists students with academic language. Other work includes the development of ongoing University Assessment, a requirement of OUVS and Middle States accrediting bodies.

In her research, she continues to explore language(s), language and power, and intercultural communication, supported by her interaction with Richmond students and staff: a stimulating, multi-cultural community.

When not working, she enjoys exploring her surroundings on foot, by bike and by canoe, and has a keen amateur interest in many subjects including the arts, aikido and natural history.

Courses Taught

• ENG 115A Principles of Academic Writing
• ENG 115B Principles of Academic Writing
• Language Workshop

Courses Previously Taught

• ENG 111 Principles of Writing I
• ELD 070 Pre-Academic English
• ELD 080 Academic English

Publications

• Neilson, S. "Feeling at home in LICOM" European Association for International Education (EAIE) Forum Conference Report, Spring : 28-29. Spring 2000.
• Neilson, S. "Gaijin - The Foreigner in Japan" Bulletin of Holy Spirit Women's Junior College No. 21 : 95-114. 1993.
• Neilson, S. "Intercultural Communication: Japan and the West" College Lectures for Women to Promote International Understanding : 51- 65. 1992.
• Neilson, S. "Teaching English in Japan - A Socio-Linguistic Approach" Bulletin No. 20 : 61-74. 1992.
• Neilson, S. "Living in Different Cultures" Bulletin No.19 : 94-105. 1991.

Conferences, Presentations and Proceedings

• " 'They never do the reading!' Practices to Foster a Reading Culture Among Richmond Students." RAIUL Pedagogies Conference, with Hathaway, J. 2010.
• “Language and Power: Linguistic Imperialism Revisited.” British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP) Annual Conference, University of Durham, with Hathaway, J. 2007
• "Whose Space is it?" Centre for English Language Teacher Education and Applied Linguistics (CELTEAL) International Conference on Interrogating Third Spaces in Language Teaching, Learning and Use, University of Leicester, with Hathaway, J. 2005
• "Who Owns the Space?" BALEAP Professional Issues Meeting on Intercultural Communication, University of the West of England, Bristol, with Hathaway, J. 2005
• "Intercultural Communication: Japan and the West," Japan Association of Language Teachers (JALT), Akita City, Japan 1992
• "Intercultural Communication: Japan and the West," Akita Prefecture Further Education for Women, Akita City, Japan 1992. Talk given in Japanese. 1992

Professional Activities

• External Advisor and Examiner for English Language, Thames Valley University, 2002 - 2007
• Ongoing development of University Assessment criteria, a requirement of Open University Validation Services (OUVS) and Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Contact Details

Office: Hill Campus, Room 12
3rd Floor Taylor Library
Email: neilsos@richmond.ac.uk